For members of Wake Electric Membership Corporation

WakeElectriConnection “The power to make a difference”

Call to report outages: 919.863.6499 or 800.743.3155Regular offi ce hours: M–F, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.Telephone hours: M–F, 7 a.m.–9 p.m., 863.6300 or 800.474.6300Underground locating service: Call 811

Effective January, Wake Electric has increased

the wholesale power cost adjustment (WPCA) by one penny—from 1.5 cents per kWh to 2.5 cents per kWh. The WPCA is an amount that is added to a member’s bill each month refl ecting increases and decreases in the cost of purchased power from the cooperative’s wholesale power supplier.

The increase is part of our larger effort to prepare for our energy future, which includes new sources of

power, reduced emissions at power plants that generate our power and increased investment in renewable energy and energy effi ciency. Increases are also necessary given today’s volatile fuel costs.

The average household (that uses about 1,000 kWh per month) can expect to see about a $10 per month increase on its electric bill. This charge applies to all residential and street lighting rates and will be effective January 1, 2009.

The average street lighting rate will increase from $8.25 to $10 monthly, though the cost differences will vary by lighting type.

Wake Electric last changed retail electric rates in June 1997. Under the new retail rates, WPCA charges were zero until late 2000. A WPCA charge of 1.5 cents per kWh has been applied since July 2006. Instead of actually raising rates, Wake Electric has decided to recover additional fuel costs through the WPCA.

The primary advantages to this approach are to avoid base rate changes until 1) there is hopefully some stability in coal prices, and 2) federal energy legislation is approved in 2009 giving the industry a better sense of the direction and structure of potentially signifi cant changes such as renewable energy mandates, carbon dioxide constraints and/or taxes.

To learn more, visit our Web site at www.wemc.com.

FEBRUARY 2009

The WPCA increase is in effect

Join us for Wake Electric’s Annual Meeting! We invite you to take a pause in your busy lives to join this

exciting gathering of Wake Electric members. During this meeting we celebrate our strength and unity and conduct the important business of our cooperative.

This year, our meeting will focus on “Our Energy, Our Future.” There is no more appropriate description for these times in our industry. The complexity and the fast pace of issues confronting co-ops—particularly new federal and state legislations on energy that could mean higher electric rates for consumers—means we have critical choices to make each day that have long-term implications. We have to get it right.

But challenges are also opportunities. That’s why your participation at this Annual Meeting is so important as we join together to make decisions refl ecting our traditional cooperative priorities and responsibilities.

You will have the opportunity to hear reports on the plans and progress of Wake Electric and have the chance to ask questions about your co-op. There will be special

activities for school-aged children during the meeting.Members in attendance will be entered into a drawing

for a number of prizes, including $5,000 in cash prizes. The Grand Prize will be $1,000 and two second-place prize of $500 each. There will be four third-place prizes

of $250 each and 20 fourth-place cash prizes of $100 each.

We look forward to seeing you at this year’s meeting.

Jim MangumGeneral Manager/Chief Executive Offi cer

Members—be sure to join us for the Wake Electric Annual Meeting!

ATTENTION MEMBERSWake Electric’s Annual Meeting is scheduled for Friday, March 27, 2009, at the Louisburg College Auditorium. Registration begins at 6 p.m. and the business meeting begins at 7 p.m.

B February 2009 Wake ElectriConnection

Most homeowners are eager to install compact fl uorescent bulbs (CFLs)

throughout their home in order to reap big savings on their electric bill. Most people, however, fi nd that the most popular type, the spiral shaped bulb, doesn’t suit their needs—either for intensity of light or the way that it looks in the light fi xture.

What most consumers don’t know is that there is an array of CFL-types to meet most needs.

SPIRAL BULBSIf these spiral-shaped light bulbs look familiar it’s because they’re the most popular type of Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL). Spiral CFLs create the same amount of light as traditional incandescent bulbs, but use less energy.

Many traditional bulbs around your home (from 60w to 150w) can be replaced with spirals. There are spirals for dimmers and three-way switches (just check the packaging). Spirals also come in a variety of colors like soft white, natural light or daylight.

COVERED A-SHAPEDA-shaped bulbs combine the effi ciency of the spiral bulbs, with the look and feel of the traditional incandescents. These products are great for consumers who don’t like the look of the spiral bulbs but still want effi cient lighting. You can use A-Line bulbs wherever you used to use traditional incandescents. Check the packaging for compatibility with dimmers and three-way fi xtures.

COVERED GLOBEGlobe-shaped bulbs are ideal for use where you can see the bulbs, like bathroom vanity bars and ceiling pendants. A globe bulb is basically a spiral bulb with a decorative cover.

Like other covered CFLs, globe bulbs need a little time to “warm up” and reach full brightness. But be patient—ENERGY STAR-qualifi ed light bulbs generate just as much light as traditional bulbs, while using less energy.

TUBED BULBSSome of the fi rst ENERGY STAR-qualifi ed light bulbs were tube shaped. Basically straight versions of the spiral bulbs, tubed bulbs work well in lamps that have slender covers such as wall sconces.

CANDLE BULBSThese products are ideal for use in decorative fi xtures where you can see the light bulb. The sleek shape also allows you to use them in tight fi tting light fi xtures where a covered globe won’t fi t.

INDOOR REFLECTOR BULBSRefl ector bulbs are perfect for providing directional light—think of recessed ceiling lights in kitchens or ceiling fans. Indoor refl ector bulbs are much smaller then those that are designed for outdoor use. Some indoor refl ector bulbs can be used with a dimmer—the packaging will tell you.

OUTDOOR REFLECTOR BULBSFor use outside, refl ector bulbs are sealed to withstand the rain and snow. Because of this, they’re usually much larger then the refl ectors designed for use inside. Don’t use the outdoor refl ectors with timers, photocells, and motion sensors because you could shorten the life of the bulbs.

3-WAY CFLSFixtures or lamps with three-way switches require the use of a three-way CFL. Check the packaging to make sure that the bulb is intended for this use. Installing three-way CFLs may require extra effort since they can be slightly larger than their matching incandescents, but they still use one-third as much electricity. Three-way bulbs typically come in Soft White color temperature.

DIMMABLE CFLSFixtures or lamps with dimmer switches require the use of dimmable CFLs. Not all CFLs are dimmable so check the packaging to make sure it is. Dimmable CFLs work differently than incandescent bulbs. Incandescents dim

smoothly from 100% of their light

output to no output and

their light color

How do I choose the correct compact fl uourescent bulb for my light fi xture?

Wake ElectriConnection February 2009 C

changes from a bright white to a warmer yellow. Dimmable CFLs maintain light color more consistently and dim to 10 percent to 40 percent of its original brightness. Dimmable bulbs typically come in Soft White color temperature.

Light Fixture-Specifi c Tips: Where to Use

CEILING FIXTURESFor ceiling fi xtures, spiral or tubed ENERGY STAR qualifi ed

bulbs are an economical choice. Ensure your fi xture allows airfl ow

to prevent excessive heat from shortening the life or decreasing the amount of light the CFL gives off.

If your ceiling fi xture is hooked up to a dimmer switch, make sure you only use dimmable bulbs or else the light bulbs won’t dim and might

even burn out sooner.

PENDANT FIXTURESWhile bare bulbs can be used, most people prefer the look of covered ENERGY STAR-qualifi ed light bulbs in their pendant fi xtures. Covered bulbs come in both traditional “A” and globe shapes.

If your pendant fi xture is hooked up to a dimmer switch, make sure you only use dimmable bulbs or else the light bulbs won’t dim and might even burn out sooner.

CEILING FANSFor ceiling fans, you have a variety of options. Spiral bulbs can be used, but most people prefer the look of covered light bulbs such as “A”-shape, candles or small refl ectors. For some ceiling fans, the size of the CFL will be important. A lot of manufacturers are developing other CFLs for use specifi cally in ceiling fans.

If your ceiling fan is hooked up to a dimmer switch, make sure you only use dimmable bulbs or else the light bulbs won’t dim and might even burn out sooner.

WALL SCONCESDue to their smaller sizes, spiral or bullet ENERGY STAR-qualifi ed light bulbs will work well in wall sconces. If your sconce is hooked up to a dimmer switch, make sure you only use dimmable bulbs or else the light bulbs won’t dim and might even burn out sooner.

RECESSED CANSIndoor refl ector light bulbs work best in recessed cans because they are specially designed to direct the light out of the fi xture and to withstand the heat buildup that occurs in these fi xtures. If your recessed cans use a dimmer switch, make

sure you buy refl ectors that are able to dim. The packaging will

tell you whether or not you can use

them with a dimmer.

OUTDOOR COVERED FIXTURESSpiral or tubed ENERGY STAR-qualifi ed light bulbs are both appropriate to use in outdoor covered fi xtures where the weather can’t harm them.

If you live in a cold climate check the packaging for starting temperatures to make sure the bulb will work properly. Check with the manufacturer of electronic controls like photocells, timers and motion sensors for compatibility with CFLs.

OUTDOOR EXPOSED FIXTURESENERGY STAR-qualifi ed outdoor fl ood light bulbs are recommended for outdoor exposed fi xtures. These bulbs have special cases that protect them from nature’s elements.

Placing a bare spiral CFL in an open outdoor fi xture exposes the tubing and electronics to the elements and is likely to result in an early failure. If you live in a cold climate check the packaging for starting temperatures to make sure the bulb will work properly.

Money-saving CFLs come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes to meet the needs of most homeowners.

D February 2009 Wake ElectriConnection

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Roy Ed Jones, Jr. President Reuben Matthews Vice President Joe Eddins Secretary Howard Conyers Treasurer

Bill Bailey Mike Dickerson Joe Hilburn, Jr. Suzy Morgan Allen Nelson

PERSONNEL

Jim Mangum General Manager & CEO Phil Price Chief Operating Offi cer & Ass’t. General Manager David Williams Manager of Member Services Fred Keller Manager, Customer Service Robin BlantonManager, EngineeringDon King Manager, OperationsAngela Rae Perez Newsletter Editor

P.O. Box 1229, 414 East Wait Avenue, Wake Forest, NC 27588, www.wemc.com

WakeElectriConnectionPublished monthly by Wake Electric

Wake Electric college funding Apply now for Wake Electric college funding for students planning to attend either an accredited four-year college, community college, technical or vocational school in North Carolina.

The Fred Alford $1,500 scholarship will be awarded to the top candidate selected by an independent judging panel. Requirements for this scholarship include the following criteria:

Must be a child of a Wake Electric member or live in

a home served by Wake Electric

Must be a high school graduating senior

Must pursue a regular four-year undergraduate

course leading to a baccalaureate degree

Must plan to attend an accredited four-year

institution in North Carolina

Eight Touchstone Energy Scholarships of $500 or more will also be awarded. These are not limited to recent high school graduates, and may be used at one of the state’s community colleges, vocational or technical schools, as well as at a four-year college.

The requirements for these scholarships are:

Must be a child of a Wake Electric member or live in

a home served by Wake Electric

Must use these funds at a N.C. college or university,

community college, vocational or technical school.

To apply for these scholarships, visit the Wake Electric Web site at www.wemc.com to download an application.

The deadline is March 27, 2009.Funded through voluntary contributions to Operation

RoundUp.

2009 Member Advisory Committee Spring Meetings Wake Electric members are invited to attend and participate in Member Advisory Meetings. These meetings are normally held twice a year—in the spring and in the fall—and allow members to meet and talk with members of the management team.

Dinner is included as well as free gifts to increase energy effi ciency in your home.

Meetings are relaxed and casual. Members hear about the latest issues facing Wake Electric and are encouraged to engage in open discussion and ask questions.

Two meetings for spring 2009 will be held Youngsville on:

Monday, March 2—6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 3—6:30 p.m.

Members may choose either meeting to attend. Reminder letters will be mailed out in January and February.

This meeting is open to all Wake Electric members. As an incentive, we will have a drawing for $25 credit on your next electric bill. You can increase your odds of winning by inviting and bringing another Wake Electric member who has never attended a Member Advisory Meeting. If your guest’s name is drawn for the $25 credit, you will receive a $25 credit, too.

If you have any questions or would like to attend, please contact Angela Perez, Public Relations/Communications Specialist, at 863.6376 or 1.800.474.6300, or send an email to angela.perez@wemc.com.

Wake ElectriConnection February 2009 E

“Our Energy, Our Future” wants to hear from youThe “Our Energy, Our Future”™ grassroots awareness campaign has been going strong for one year, and in that time hundreds of thousands of electric cooperative consumers have sent more than 1.5 million messages in to their elected offi cials. These messages have brought the consumer voice to Capitol Hill, urging lawmakers to develop and support sound, thoughtful policy that will secure an affordable energy future for our nation.

With a new year comes a new administration to Washington, D.C., and a Congress fl ush with new

members. These new faces must also be made aware of the challenges consumers could face if they pursue the wrong energy policy. As a result, we must continue to press our elected offi cials on three questions central to ”Our Energy, Our Future”:

What is your plan to make sure we have the

electricity we’ll need in the future?

What are you doing to speed the development

of new technology that will allow me to have the electric power I need while meeting national climate policy goals?

How much is all this going to increase my electric bill

and what will you do to make it affordable?

In 2009, the campaign will offer you the opportunity to share personal stories and struggles related to paying your electric bills, helping drive home the importance of affordability in any legislative proposal. In addition, we’re adding a fourth question, asking you to contact your congressional representatives and ask that they work with local electric cooperatives to understand and solve our nation’s energy challenges.

To learn how you can record and send a personal message to Congress, please visit www.ourenergy.coop. After one year, this campaign is off to a strong start in a time of energy uncertainty—your voice is needed now more than ever.

Straight Talk about

Sharing Your Story

of Change a Light contestIn January, Wake Electric drew from dozens of entries for our Change a Light contest. Winners received a $150 credit on their electric bill. Wake Electric created the program to encourage members to offset rising electricity costs by purchasing and installing money- and energy-saving compact fl uorescent lamps (CFLs). Energy Star-qualifi ed CFLS:

Save about $30 or more in electricity over each

bulb’s lifetime

Produce about 75% less heat, so they’re safer to

operate. Can cut home cooling energy costs.

Use about 75% less energy than standard

incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer

The winners of the January drawing are: Phyllis Strickland of Middlesex and Frank Motshwiller of Creedmoor. Congratulations to Phyllis and Frank and to all Wake Electric members who have made the “change” to big savings with CFLs!

W I N N E R S

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F February 2009 Wake ElectriConnection